Here’s why it’s time to revisit the Gold Coast’s lofty hinterland neighbour – but only with an appetite.

Having grown up in Brisbane, just an hour’s drive from Tamborine Mountain – a landmark rising high above the valleys of the hinterland behind the Gold Coast – I’ve visited this tranquil destination many times. And yet, it wasn’t until my most recent, week-long visit, during which I was astonished by the mountain’s rapidly evolving hospitality landscape, that I really became enamoured by this icon of the Scenic Rim Region. While roadtrip-worthy cafes and wineries have been growing like wildflowers on the mountain for decades, a slew of new restaurants, bars and picnic food stockists are breathing new life into the crisp mountain air.  

As a food writer in constant pursuit of great, flavour-forward experiences, here’s where I suggest you visit when you’re next on Tamborine Mountain. 

Loborn

While many cocktail and spritz enthusiasts will have sampled Italian amaro, few have sipped the amber and ruby-hued Australian take on this beloved, bitter aperitif. Come for a take-home bottle of expertly distilled Australian amaro (or gin, or vermouth), and stay for a tasting and the warm hospitality at Loborn Tasting Bar. Inside the inviting space – just follow the scent of orange peel and juniper berries toward the back of North Stores on Main Street – you’ll likely find Loborn’s founder Tom Drewitt at the bar’s communal table. Here, patrons can sip on a cocktail or neat glass of housemade amaro, imbued with local botanicals that pay homage to the region.

Picnic Real Food Bar 

Community-driven hospitality veterans and best friends, Brenda Fawdon and Sonja Drexler, are the passionate real-food aficionados behind Picnic Real Food Bar (which neighbours Loborn Tasting Bar, also at North Stores). On cool, mountain mornings, well-made coffees and tea are served alongside thoughtfully prepared, from-scratch, seasonal fare (think savoury tarts with house-made pastry, flower-topped cakes, and wholesome, produce-filled bowls) – that lure in locals and visitors seeking delicious repast. After a meal at Picnic Real Food Bar, wander into Potta next door to peruse beautiful pottery creations (a fitting souvenir of your time on the mountain). 

Peddly Picnics 

A relative newcomer to the mountain, and a welcome addition to the neighbourhood, Peddly Picnics is fast-becoming a go-to for top-notch picnic provisions and e-bike hire. Across the street (Main Street, specifically) from Picnic Real Food Bar, Peddly Picnics offers a range of packages (including one that’s suitable for those exploring with their dogs in tow. Having lived on the mountain for 17 years, owners Jools and Kane are well-versed on the best tracks and spots for seeing Tamborine Mountain by bike (or just enjoying a picnic with a view). Wander into the Peddly Picnics store and ask about its packages.

Tamborine Mountain Gelato Co

All year round, the team behind Tamborine Mountain Gelato Co serves up its curated range of artisan gelato flavours. A stalwart selection of gelato varieties complements its special board’s flavours – which have included the likes of burnt butter, toasted marshmallow, Christmas custard, pavlova, a roasted peach and honey sorbet, and a hot cross bun gelato sandwich (featuring Franquette’s buns), among many others. Slide into a comfy booth seat with a seasonal-ingredient-infused scoop from this inspired gelataria and observe the leisurely foot traffic on Main Street. 

Mana Souvlaki

Walking into the newly opened Mana Souvlaki is akin to entering a warm family home – albeit one that’s filled with the scent of sizzling halloumi, lemon and oregano. Traditional Hellenic cuisine is the order of the day at this family-run restaurant, where fresh, local produce is put to delicious use. Diners work their way through an enticing menu, starring souvlaki, meze and an impressively expansive choice of vegan and vegetarian dishes (try the family’s own spanakopita recipe). Greek wines pair perfectly, and the lahano salata (a cabbage salad) with capers, pomegranate, citrus and herbs, is a surprise show-stopper.

Franquette

A boulangerie fit for the streets of France resides along Gallery Walk on Tambourine Mountain. Golden sourdough breads, flaky danishes, creamy flans and cheesecakes, baguette sandwiches, cheese-crusted toasties and, frankly, some of the best croissants you’ll ever eat await beyond the counter at Franquette. Then there’s the life-affirming coffee, a wide-ranging hot chocolate menu, and a popular croissant loaf. Dine in for breakfast, brunch or lunch – or, order a picnic bag (which comes complete with a chic Franquette tote). 

Witches Falls Winery 

While away an afternoon by the vines at Witches Falls Winery, and taste its wild-ferment sips alongside its more traditional pours. While there’s no restaurant on site, wine samplers can order olives, cheeses (including vegan cheeses), charcuterie items and preserves. Eighth Day hard apple cider flights and beer tasting paddles from neighbouring brewery, Boxer Brewing Co, are also available. 

Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation

An idyllic meeting point or refuelling spot for roadtrippers, Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation serves hot cups of the good stuff, alongside generously portioned brunch-time meals, cakes and more. Perch on its back terrace in the sunshine, where vibrant red coffee beans pepper the plants around your table. For true coffee devotees, there’s the option to take a tour of the coffee plantation and learn more about this complex brew.

Tamborine Cheese

It would be a mistake for any self-proclaimed cheese lover to leave this mountain without first paying a visit to Tamborine Cheese. Cheesemaker Cristian Silvalti, hailing from Avellino, Italy, always dreamed of opening a cheese company – and Tamborine Cheese is the fruit of his labour. Now, cheese fiends can pick up Italian cheeses, made from locally sourced buffalo and cow’s milks, from his mountaintop shop. 

Pinto Thai Station

Staying the night? Bringing the fresh flavours of Thailand to Tamborine Mountain, Pinto Thai Station is favoured by locals and holidaymakers seeking warming takeaway dinners to enjoy at their lodgings (preferably by a fireplace). A succinct yet warming menu of vibrant curries, stir-fries and starters are bound to please on a chilly evening. A drawcard? The creamy red curry with its layered depth of flavour is a robust and delicious choice. 

Main St Providore

Be it a morning’s kick-starting espresso and freshly baked pastry, or deli-style sandwiches and cheese plates (with a glass of wine) at lunchtime, or leisurely five-course set menu dinners come the evening, Main St. Provedore Eatery & Espresso is a one-stop gourmand’s shop. Chef Brenden Schutz’s love for and knowledge of great food shines through in every breakfast, lunch and dinner dish at this welcoming venue.

Trattoria MKIII

When temperatures drop in the Scenic Rim, a menu that celebrates Italo-Americano flavour and hearty carbs is precisely what diners want to warm up with. Huddle inside and tuck into a starter of meatballs and focaccia, move onward to teaming plates of pizza and heaped-high bowls of creamy pasta (like the boscaiola), and end your meal with spoonfuls of tiramisu. You can also pop in for espresso from 7am each morning. 

Tamborine Mountain Pizza 

The older sibling restaurant of Trattoria MKIII, Tamborine Mountain Pizza has been serving up slices since 1994. While its methods are traditional – its dough is slow fermented and rolled to bake fresh by the order – its many and varied toppings prove this venue is not afraid to stray from tradition in the name of flavour (enter: Mexican pizza). Plus, vegan diners are given the choice of five plant-based pizzas, too. Try the ‘Pepperoni Americano’ with locally produced hot honey and added burrata.

Saint Marthe Brasserie

French-inspired Saint Marthe Brasserie presents an ambient, fire-warmed space in which to sip a cocktail and enjoy a snack by the bar. Those without plans might pop in for a drink and a small plate, but the menu here is more than likely set to lure them in for something more (the gruyere cheese souffle, for example) and a taste of the housemade lavender ice-cream to end the night.